In one stirring night inside the US Airways Center, the greatest quarterback to ever play the indoor game purged a lifetime of frustration, especially in big games. Aaron Garcia gave 17 seasons of his life to playing in the AFL, and the Sharks and the 40-year-old gave each other something that will last forever — a championship.

Garcia threw a 10-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the game to Jeron Harvey for a fitting end to a spectacular season. The man who threw for more than 50,000 yards in his career put his legacy and a city’s hopes on a single throw.

Harvey, a Jacksonville native who played at Jackson High, caught it in the right side of the end zone, triggering a celebration that included these encouraging words:

“One play, one touchdown,” Garcia said. “We thought it would come down to that. Now that I’ve won it, I might want to come back and win another one next year.”

A franchise in its second year of existence was never in better hands. Garcia never flinched, even with the overwhelming majority of 14,320 fans cheering against him. He completed 28-of-42 passes for 402 yards and eight touchdowns.

The team dedicated itself since training camp to getting Garcia his first championship ring. After the game, he dedicated the win to Jacksonville.

A lost fumble inside the 5-yard line and four missed PAT kicks made it tough, but Micheaux Robinson’s interception with 7:53 remaining was a stunning turnaround for Jacksonville. Once Robinson gave the Sharks a chance, Garcia did the rest.

The Sharks scored three times in the final 61 seconds, none bigger than Garcia’s final throw.

“The play was supposed to go to Jomo [Wilson], but they jumped him,” Harvey said. “When they double-teamed him, I sat back and I was wide open.

“On that last drive, AG [Garcia] was confident. He didn’t say anything in the huddle before the play other than calling the play.”

“Actually, I was nervous as [heck],” Garcia said. “I’ve trusted these guys all year long. This is as good as it gets.”

Garcia was named the game’s most valuable player.

Arizona scored on its first drive on a 2-yard run by Odie Armstrong with 10:58 remaining in the first quarter. Garcia came back with his first throw to complete a 41-yard touchdown pass to Wilson. Marco Capozzoli’s kick sliced wide left, and the Rattlers led 7-6.

After the teams traded touchdowns — and Capozzoli missed another kick — the Sharks broke through by forcing a fumble by Virgil Gray at the Jacksonville 13 with Capozzoli making the recovery.

The Sharks received two huge breaks on the following drive when Kirby Griffin recovered his own fumble at the 1-yard line. Griffin fumbled again on the next play, but Wilson recovered it in the end zone for a Jacksonville touchdown. Capozzoli extended the lead to 19-14 with 12:32 left in the half.

Gray fumbled another kickoff with 4:26 to go before halftime. Jerry Brown’s recovery gave Garcia the ball at the 8. Three plays later, Jamarko Simmons jumped over the scrum from the 1 for the touchdown. A bad snap on the kick attempt still left the Sharks out front 32-21.

Jacksonville drove to the Arizona 4, but Griffin’s third fumble at the goal line was costly. Anttaj Hawthorne recovered it for the Rattlers with 41 seconds remaining, and quarterback Nick Davila turned it into a 16-yard TD to Jason Geathers.

Garcia threw a 36-yard completion to Simmons on the final play of the first half. Although Simmons wound up in the end zone, the officials didn’t signal a touchdown.

Garcia was good on 12 of 14 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. His young counterpart, Davila, was 17 of 26 for 210 yards and four TDs.

Robinson’s interception midway in the fourth gave the Sharks a huge lift.

Griffin rambled in for the score from the 4 with 4:36 to go, followed by a Garcia-to-Harvey two-point conversion pass that put Jacksonville out front 53-49.

From there, it was clear the team with the ball last would win. Harvey caught a 45-yard TD pass with 1:00 to play to put the Sharks up 60-56. There were three touchdowns — two by Arizona and one by the Sharks — scored in a span of 40 seconds, but Jacksonville got the all-important last possession with 21 seconds to play.

Jeff Hughley returned the kick to the Sharks’ 23. Garcia overthrew Hughley in the end zone on first down. Wilson caught a 17-yard pass to the Rattlers’ 10 with 2 seconds to go.

What a game!!! I'm ok with the comments made by person above not being into the Sharks. WE DON'T WANT A PERSON LIKE YOU AT THE GAMES!!! we want people who are enthusiastic and will cheer our team on. So, stay home or do whatever you want to do and we won't miss you even a tiny little bit!!!!
WAY TO GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!